NOTE: The handouts that were posted in last week (week 5) were incorrect. For the correct handout click here. My apologies!
Ladies, I cannot believe we are at the end of our study together. It has flown by! Now, I will say that we are not at the end of our journey toward brokenness. To the contrary, we are just getting started. Becoming a broken person is a process that God takes us through gradually. Sometimes we are quick learners and other times, we seem to need a bit more nudging. The point is: Brokenness takes time, practice, prayer, and transformation.
I was particularly struck this week by Nancy’s insights on how to cultivate a contrite heart. Here list is below.
Ways to cultivate a contrite heart:
- Get a Fresh Vision of God
How do we do that? We step into the light of His holiness. We make sure that everyday we verbalize who God is, we contemplate His greatness and His majesty, and sometimes we have a “Job” or Isaiah moment.
I loved looking at God’s response to Job’s self-rigtheous heart. Job quickly got a glimpse at the glory and greatness of the Father. (See Job 37, 38, 40)
- Don’t Wait for God to Break You – Choose to Be Broken
Luke 20:18 says, “Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls it will grind him to powder.” I think I would much prefer God’s gracious hand of guidance toward brokenness in my life than His burning anger against my willful self indulgence and resistance. (See Isaiah 2:11-12)
- Acknowledge Spiritual Need – to God and to Others
This speaks of the idea we studies in week 1 – Roof off (being open and honest to God) and Walls down (being open and transparent with others). We need to make a habit of verbalizing our need for God and our dependence on Him. We need to find a person who will hold us accountable for our actions, someone who can be totally honest with us. We need to take personal responsibility for our sins and stop the blame game.
- Do Whatever You Know God Wants You to Do
Simply put, we need to obey what God tells us to do. It is detrimental for us to resist the direction of the Holy Spirit. We must consider God’s authority in our lives and make it a BIG DEAL!
I want to encourage you, sister, to continue on this journey with me. It is a long and difficult journey, but it is one of sweet reward and freedom. Pray daily for a contrite heart and experience revival afresh everyday!
Here is a “prayer formula” that came to my mind based on Nancy’s insights above that may help you on your journey.
- Praise God for who He is every morning. Speak His attributes. Tell Him of His greatness and reflect on the majesty of God the Father and Jesus the Son.
- Ask God each morning to break you. Ask Him for a contrite heart for that day.
- Verbalize your dependence on God every morning. “God, I need You today. I know I am a sinner by nature and that I will fail in some way today. Help me when I do to quickly turn back to You and repent.”
- Ask God to help you obey Him when He gives you direction. Ask Him to give You a sensitivity to His spirit and a desire to do His will.
Blessings to you, my friend, as we continue our journey to brokenness. I leave you with the prayer that Nancy had us read in the opening pages of her book.
The Valley of Vision
Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness, thy life in my death, thy joy in my sorrow, thy grace in my sin, thy riches in my poverty thy glory in my valley.
